[sreraku]

31 August 2021 at 20:26:15 #826078

Hi

I was reading all the nice places around Zermatt in the forum. Wanted to check during initial days of January, is it advisable to do a hike like 5 lake one or an easy one?

Also, I love landscape photography and can lug my camera gear around but want to get that nice shot with reflection of matterhorn in a lake.

Appreciate any inputs.

Thanks

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[Removed user]

1 September 2021 at 7:20:59 #936415

Hi Sreraku,

as far as I remember from the 5 lake route you cannot have a really good reflection of Matterhorn. The reflection, the most often you can see on photos is made at Riffelsee that you can find on the route from Rotenboden to Riffelalp: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/rotenboden-riffelalp/route. But in January it will be frozen for sure, meaning there won’t be a great reflection at all.

At http://www.zermatt.ch/en/winter-hiking-snowshoeing/Winter-hiking-trails you’ll find further winter hiking routes.

Anyway, you can also try snowshoe trails, which is also great fun. I think a bit more difficult than just walking but you can use to it quite soon. And makes walking in deep snow easier. More info: http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/snow

I hope this helps,

Ildiko

More about hiking: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking

[sreraku]

1 September 2021 at 18:56:48 #936416

Thanks IIdiko. Btw, I am very interested in the landscape photography. Which trails do you suggest for hiking? I will also google but will be better to know from the experienced 🙂

Regards

sreraku

[Removed user]

2 September 2021 at 8:09:34 #936417

Hi Sreraku,

I think that the whole area is wonderful regarding nature.

But my fav parts are the ones from Gornergrat* to Riffelalp (also with the funicular) and I remember I loved Schwarzsee area too (during summer and autumn). 5 lake hike is wonderful too but I’ve been there only in autumn, I have no experience of it during wintertime.

But as I mentioned the whole area is wonderful, you cannot go wrong. 🙂

Ildiko

*Note, that Gornergrat is already high altitude (3100 m), if you are not used to it, hiking can be difficult there. You can read more about hiking/walking at high altitudes here: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch under preparation and at http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/preparation.

[sreraku]

14 September 2021 at 17:02:24 #936418

Thanks IIdiko

[Removed user]

19 September 2021 at 23:36:57 #936419

In January all the hikes you are thinking of around Zermatt are under snow – the area becomes a ski resort. Therefore you won’t see any lakes. Around Zermatt village itself there may not be snow cover (depends on what the snow levels turn out to be – varies from year to year (not just since ‘climate change’ started) but the paths are limited in scope. In winter there are some official walking routes which are made by clearing a path through deep snow with a machine.